Chapter 333: Interior of the Carriage

"What, an acquaintance?"

Qian Dele, who had just returned with his team, was blowing sweat away with a handheld hairdryer as he stepped onto the platform; he had led Hu Lushou and his men in smashing several outposts of the Tulong Gang, reaping a rich harvest.

Lin Xian nodded: "An old friend of mine, but his appearance here is suspicious."

Saying this, he turned to look at Hu Lushou, who was approaching with Sun Chang and the rest of his group, their faces glowing with excitement.

According to what Old Mo had just said, they too had been dragged into Star Abyss No. 5 along with Silent City, then reappeared in this western desert—strange circumstances.

"Oh my, Lin Team Leader, you wouldn't believe it—that Bone-Softening Dragon was a slippery eel; the stuff hidden in his caves was more than what ten of my battalions have combined! Heh heh, we've hit the jackpot this time." Hu Lushou grinned broadly.

On the other side, Chen Sixuan and Ningjing Shi Di had finished their inventory and now gathered around.

"The Crimson Hawks had plenty too—this guy left behind dozens of men, at least seventy or eighty." Ningjing said sharply: "Looks like a backup plan, and it wasn't meant for us."

"Protecting against rivals—I've got the same situation. Took me a bit of effort." Qian Dele shrugged: "Pfft, what Iron Alliance? Trying to make a bunch of bandits work together is a joke."

Chen Sixuan also explained the situation with the Sand Scorpion Gang; when she mentioned that the air raid shelter contained a lavish palace housing over a dozen 'concubines,' everyone stared in stunned silence.

In fact, Lin Xian had seen many such cases since the apocalypse—in Jiang City, Liu Wei of the Oasis Caravan was a perfect example: as soon as he gained his ability, he immediately recruited men, took wives and concubines, and unleashed a chaotic orgy of broken rules. His only bad luck was running into Lin Xian right after leaving Jiang City…

Yet even so, the group was still utterly astonished upon hearing about the old Scorpion's situation.

"Hmph, this scumbag—heard he wasn't weak. How'd he not die on some woman's belly?" Shi Di snorted: "Damn it, every last one of these desert bandits deserves to be crushed outright—I'd be doing them a favor."

He turned to Lin Xian, praising him: "Your method was the right one—those girls were rescued too. Later, tell them what happened. Let them vent their anger!"

Lin Xian replied gravely: "We brought back dozens, maybe hundreds of people. What do we do with them?"

"Let us first investigate their backgrounds," Ningjing said. "Gather information, then discuss it tonight."

Lin Xian nodded—he'd been thinking the same thing.

Hu Lushou stood aside, rubbing his hands: "Heh heh, Team Leaders, our caravans have followed you all the way into the Wurenqu. Whatever tasks you need, just assign them."

"If you can keep up, fine," Shi Di crossed his arms, fixing Hu Lushou with a hard stare. "But listen: all movements follow orders. Stop when told to stop, move when told to move, shut windows and lights immediately—or else…"

"Relax, relax!" Hu Lushou slapped his chest, his gold teeth gleaming. "We're all on the same boat now—we won't drag you down!"

"Good. Go prepare," Shi Di told him.

Hu Lushou's smile froze. He thought: Isn't this when we're dividing the loot after clearing the bandits' nest? Why send me back? He turned to Lin Xian with a pitiful expression, as if pleading: Boss, I already handed over two-tenths of the haul—I'm on your side now! I helped clear the nest, at least give me a few scraps!

Lin Xian couldn't help smiling at Hu Lushou's expression and said directly: "Let's talk about the haul first."

"Ah! Got it!" Hu Lushou's eyes lit up at Lin Xian's words, instantly energized.

Led by Chen Sixuan, Qian Dele, and Ningjing, the teams had swept through eight outposts of the Sand Scorpion Gang, Crimson Hawks, and Tulong Gang, recovering massive supplies. Combined with the loot cleared by the three caravans that attacked the city earlier, a small mountain of goods now lay piled on the open ground outside Akesai Station.

Among them: 1, 26 Grade One Blood Essences, 94 Grade Two Blood Essences.

Various canned fish, meat, beans, fruits, vegetables, biscuits, chocolate, and dehydrated food filled several large trucks—over ten tons total by weight. Honey, sugar, salt, oil, and other supplies were also abundant.

Weapons and gear: over a thousand automatic rifles, two dozen arc pulse cannons, over a hundred rocket launchers, hundreds of drones, light and heavy machine guns, mortars, air mines, vehicle-mounted artillery, missiles, flamethrowers, grenades, sniper rifles, shotguns, modified harpoons, gas shells—and even three old 155mm military self-propelled howitzers and one self-propelled rocket launcher without ammunition, plus piles of explosives, fuel, napalm, and assorted other junk.

Aside from the bizarrely modified killing weapons, most were brand-new Federation-issue arms—far superior to what ordinary survivors carried. This was likely one reason the desert bandits had grown so bold in the Western Desert.

Beyond that, all bottled water and usable freshwater collected from the outposts totaled less than five tons; after subtracting containers and buckets, Lin Xian estimated just over four tons.

At a daily intake of one liter per adult, the combined joint train and Akesai caravans—over five thousand people—would barely last one day.

Of course, in this place, one liter per day was already luxurious. For pure survival, the bare minimum was three hundred milliliters—assuming no other activity. But with nightfall and constant threats, that was impossible. Even at five hundred milliliters, it would last at most two days.

And Lin Xian hadn't even factored in water needs for the train itself or the nuclear reactor's cooling system.

Still, this supply was a lifesaver. The caravans still had some buffer—if they could cross the Wurenqu and reach Quancheng within two or three days, things might improve.

Besides these supplies, over 120 captives taken by the bandits had been rescued, including the old Scorpion's dozen or so 'concubines.' Lin Xian took a quick look: all the women were silent, either from prolonged trauma or disbelief they were free—they'd begun seeing themselves as objects, merely traded from one group to another.

Only when clothed, their neck chains removed, and given food and water did some begin to weep silently; others, numb, ate mechanically.

Unlike the previous allocation with Yi Jin, this time, since all caravans had contributed manpower and effort in the battle against the bandits—and since every group lacked water—Lin Xian and the caravans agreed to divide food and water equally by headcount.

"I don't want weapons. If any caravan wants my share, trade me water for it."

At that moment, Mo Nika, having rested comfortably all afternoon, arrived under the shade of her umbrella-bearers and spoke directly:

"Also… if those dozen women clear screening, I'll take them."

The first to react with shock was Qian Dele, who stared at Mo Nika: "What are you joking about? You take women?"

"Why not?" Mo Nika crossed her arms. "They may be timid, numb, stripped of dignity—reduced to pure survival instinct. But once given strength, they won't hesitate to kill. And I'll keep them away from men."

Lin Xian paused. He'd assumed Mo Nika wanted these women to balance the gender ratio in her caravan. He realized now he'd thought too simply—and too crudely.

Mo Nika intended to form an all-female combat unit, separate from her male members. Lin Xian could already see the expressions of her subordinates: from initial excitement to icy despair upon hearing she'd take these women…

This woman was a demon. With Mo Queen's sealed carriage, in this desolate apocalypse, having one visible, untouchable sexy queen was bad enough—now add a dozen beautiful women, all kept apart. Her male crew would suffocate.

Hearing this, not just Lin Xian but every other caravan leader stared at Mo Nika with strange, unreadable expressions.

"Back to the point—I don't need weapons either. Any caravan short on arms can trade me water."

Lin Xian broke the silence. His train had two greenery cars, so his water needs were enormous.

Both Lin Xian's Infinite Train and Mo Nika's Mo Queen were exceptionally well-equipped, their weapons far superior. For Lin Xian, scanning and manufacturing these weapons was unnecessary—he simply asked for more water.

Another caravan was the Fulu Shou Team. Hu Lushou had deep pockets—his men carried top-tier gear. Sun Chang's advanced mechanical arms alone were worth a full Youlang -class battle armor set, proving Hu Lushou spared no expense for his people. He didn't ask for weapons or food, only water and some Blood Essences.

"I'll trade!" A caravan immediately stepped forward.

Soon, the allocation was settled. The Akesai bandit suppression operation officially ended.

The Blood Essences were divided: Lin Xian, Longshan No. 1, Joker, Mo Queen, and Hu Lushou's teams took 70%; the rest were distributed by caravan unit.

The Infinite Train received 150 Grade One Blood Essences, 15 Grade Two, several canned goods, and 300 liters of water. Though insufficient for 180 people, it eased the immediate crisis.

Add the 10 Grade Two Blood Essences Hu Lushou gave Lin Xian, and he now had 191 Grade One, 25 Grade Two, and one Grade Three. These could be traded with Phoenix Society or Federation contacts for substantial supplies.

Time: 17: 0.

With allocation complete, each caravan hurriedly carried their loot back to their vehicles. Night approached. Everyone had endured last night's horror. Those repairing the train moved faster.

The Infinite Train, after reorganizing its carriages, rejoined the joint train formation—Longshan No. 1 leading, followed by Infinite Train, Mo Queen, Joker, and all Akesai caravans gathered around the station, forming a camp, waiting for nightfall and ready to advance into the Wurenqu.

On the Infinite Train, the returning crew, excited and busy, began helping reorganize the interior.

The three living quarters from Shu Qin's section had been consolidated into one carriage—not cramped, since the original space was too large. With fewer than ten people per carriage before, now twenty-six shared one, but except for Shu Qin, everyone still had a two-person compartment.

Only Xiao Yuan felt mixed emotions. She'd moved alone to Carriage 4, tasked with caring for the two greenery cars alongside Ding Junyi. She missed her friends, but felt a quiet thrill—Lin Xian had entrusted her with a special duty. Though it was just managing a garden, she saw it as proof of his trust!

From Carriage 9 to 18, people bustled. Men and women cheerfully arranged their new shelters. Families were assigned to the same compartment—each a small, lockable safe room, filled with personal belongings.

In Carriages 10 and 11, Chen Sixuan, Li Yi, and Miao Lu worked efficiently. These carriages housed Duo Duo and other children, plus single women from Li Yi's caravan and some families—mostly women and children. The carriages buzzed with chatter and laughter, clear signs of joy.

Between Carriages 11 and 14, a weapons car and armory car separated them. Carriage 14 housed Luo Luo, Xiao Min, and other young girls—only sixteen people, fewer than others. After finishing their tasks, Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan helped arrange their living space.

"Don't open the light-blocking panels without permission—they're controlled by Lin Team Leader. During daylight, they're usually open."

"Toilets work normally, but no showers for now. We're in the desert—no water for bathing these days."

"Feel free to walk around the greenery carriages when idle, but don't touch the plants. The air there is fresh—perfect for relaxing. We treat it like a little garden…"

Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan quickly bonded with the girls, explaining the train's layout.

Further back, Da Lou, Lu Chang, and Luo Yang arranged the settling of Carriages 15–18. Over seventy people lived there—mostly men, with only a dozen or so families including women. The atmosphere was boisterous; these men worked quickly and diligently.

After securing his safe compartment, the burly Old Zhou patted the carriage's armored wall, thrilled: "This train's way more comfortable than living in our old vehicles! Lin Team Leader's compartments are spacious, cozy, and the glass is bulletproof—amazing!"

"Yeah! Like a mobile city—no more jolting!"

"Exactly! So comfortable!"

"Lin Team Leader's incredible—built such a safe train. We can finally rest easy."

"We've got more people now, and a medical bay. Won't fear injuries fighting monsters anymore!"

"Hey, still gotta be careful—lose your head, you can't reattach it," Lu Chang muttered while helping.

"Hahaha!"

The men burst into laughter. Just then, Sha Sha strode down the corridor. One big man stared at the girl and asked: "Boss Lou, that's your sister? Why's she back here?"

"My Sha-Li is back here!" Sha Sha glanced at them proudly. "If monsters show up, I need to deploy fast. You better have your pants on!"

With that, she whistled a tune and walked past their bewildered stares.

Da Lou chuckled awkwardly: "Uh… don't judge by her size. She fights monster waves better than I do."

The men stared, dumbfounded. A girl, eleven or twelve, charging ahead of grown men to fight monster waves? In their old caravans, children hid or did small chores. Who trained this girl?

Lin Xian sat on the floor of Carriage 13, building an automatic bullet-pressing machine. This carriage had no windows, fully sealed and armored. Both sides were packed with weapon racks—automatic rifles, shotguns, Gatling guns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, arc pulse rifles, light machine guns—all types. Ammunition of every caliber stacked in crates.

To claim weapons or ammo here, you needed approval from Da Lou and Shu Qin. They also trained team members in firearms and hand-to-hand combat. If you were skilled, you could use any weapon—even request training from Sha Sha to operate mechs or aircraft.

Liang Lei, under Kiki's guidance, was learning the train's wiring and piping. He'd soon oversee the engineering department, leading a team of repair-skilled members to maintain the train, aided by PX-05 robots. With this division of labor, Lin Xian no longer had to rush around every pipe leak or system failure.

Chen Sixuan, with Li Yi and Miao Lu, completed the full inventory, then introduced over twenty women assigned to internal logistics to the Infinite Train's layout—supply usage, carriage functions, etc. They divided cleaning and maintenance zones: Li Yi handled meal logistics; Miao Lu, trained as a nurse, managed the full-spectrum medical bay and all medical supplies.

Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan also assisted Ding Junyi in monitoring everyone's ability growth and physiological changes.

*Tap-tap-tap*—in Carriage 13, a holographic display appeared, materials flying out. The large industrial machine finally took shape.

Once built, with a PX-05 robot managing maintenance, Lin Xian could simply feed it converted bullet materials from the decomposition space for automatic pressing and reloading. It wouldn't produce complete rounds in one go—but it solved 90% of the problem. With more people now, combat personnel alone exceeded 120, plus multiple 1130s. A single battle would drain massive ammunition.

After weighing options, Lin Xian decided to prioritize building this machine before nightfall.

The captives were housed on Longshan No. 1, receiving aid while Ningjing organized investigations to compile their information.

Lin Xian also planned to share details about Star Abyss No. 5, then directly question Hu Lushou and Old Mo.

In Carriage 12, the armory, Luo Yang and Xiao Bai lived alone, turning their vehicle's computer into a basic info hub linked to the Infinite Train's Sentinel and Radar systems. Now, night watch didn't rely solely on Kiki—both sides could respond together.

As time reached 18: 0, night drew near. The train quieted. Chen Sixuan entered Carriage 13, watching Lin Xian still working, and said:

"You haven't slept in two days. Tomorrow we enter the Wurenqu. You need rest."

"That's my plan," Lin Xian looked at her, then at his watch, his expression grave. "If nothing happens tonight, I'll meet with Shi Da and discuss the intel from Old Mo and the captives—then rest."

Chen Sixuan nodded: "Food's been distributed. Given last night, we're holding off hot meals."

Lin Xian noticed her unusual gaze and asked: "What's wrong? Something on your mind?"

Chen Sixuan walked beside him, sat on the floor like him, her voice clear and cold: "Maybe I'm slipping back into old habits. Seeing what those people did in the Sand Scorpion Gang… it made me sick."

Lin Xian looked at her: "Worse than killing?"

Chen Sixuan shook her head: "Night is terrifying for us—death, the end of civilization. But these desert bandits? Their combat power couldn't even hold off a single wave of snow ghouls from Xilan City. Yet the things they do… are a thousand, ten thousand times more horrifying than any monster."

Lin Xian sneered and said, "Yes, the more similar you are, the more you know how to inflict greater harm on your own kind. Do you know what that old scorpion said to us before he died?"

Chen Sixuan looked at him.

"He said he knew we were no match for our combined convoy, but they could still send us a gift in the night…"

Chen Sixuan's expression turned grim: "Kiki calls those who descended traitors, but these people are worse than traitors."

Beep. Beep.

The watch's alert sounded. Listening to the howling wind and sand outside the vehicle, Lin Xian said sternly, "Now we're slowly uncovering the secrets of the night—we've learned of the Dark Mark, and how to enter Silent State. If there truly are traitors who can establish contact with the night and aid it in eradicating human civilization, then perhaps that is…"

"Humanity's greatest tragedy."

Hum~

On the lifeless desert, night descended. Everyone, seal every crack and crevice in your doors and windows!

(End of Chapter)